Mitchell and Todd Appalled By Cruz's 'Vicious' Office Space Parody

NewsBusters ^ | February 12, 2016 | Scott Whitlock

[SoConPubbie]

MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell and Chuck Todd were appalled by a new Ted Cruz commercial attacking Hillary Clinton, labeling it “vicious” and “rough.” The campaign spot parodied the 1999 cult classic Office Space, showing “Hillary Clinton” angrily destroying a computer hard drive. 

After playing a clip, a disgusted Chuck Todd condemned, “That was a little rough. That was a little uncomfortable to watch.” Todd added, “That looked vicious” and suggested the commercial crossed the line. 

Mitchell lectured, “First of all, Ted Cruz is not running against Hillary Clinton yet. And I just think the parody is great in politics,” but “I'm not sure it plays in South Carolina, the Bible Belt.” 

It’s rare on MSNBC to see such concern for the sensibilities of Christians. 

Given that Chuck Todd has tossed softballs to Hillary Clinton on the e-mail scandal and Mitchell was thrilled when Bill Clinton hit the campaign trail for his wife, perhaps the journalists should have realized the ad wasn’t aimed at them. 

A transcript of the exchange is below: 

Andrea Mitchell Reports
2/12/16
12:21

ANDREA MITCHELL: Ted Cruz has had very edgy, clever, some would say, ads. But there's a question. I just want to play part of this Office Space spoof for you. Because I was talking to a political science professor just yesterday about civility and discourse in this campaign. We talked about profanity, a lot of other obvious issues and then this pops up.        

[Clip of Ted Cruz “Office Space” ad.]

MITCHELL: Now— 

CHUCK TODD: That was a little rough. That was a little uncomfortable to watch. 

MITCHELL: Yeah!  First of all, Ted Cruz is not running against Hillary Clinton yet. And I just think the parody is great in politics or anything, but — 

TODD: Whatever. There was the line. That looked vicious. It was sort of, whatever it is, whatever that line — 

MITCHELL: I'm not sure it plays in South Carolina, the Bible Belt. 

TODD: I'm not sure if it does either. I don’t know if it does either.

[olezip]

MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell and Chuck Todd were appalled by a new Ted Cruz commercial attacking Hillary Clinton, labeling it “vicious” and “rough.”

This comment by Mitchell and Todd seems a little odd, given that the Clintons themselves can be described as vicious and rough. Certainly neither of them would ever think of asking Hillary a question that would be considered vicious and rough.

Of course in a Republican debate, that is the only criterion that they have, that the questions be vicious and rough.

[Jan_Sobieski]

Nice!

[eartick]

Man when these two pukes hate it, it makes you love it even more.

[eartick]

If I had made the ad she would have been in an orange jumpsuit.

I think Senator Cruz would appreciate an ad run by you. Why don't you make him one. Thanks

[Fresh Wind]

Dear Andrea and Todd:

Do you know what appalls me?

Lying, corruption, and treason, and people like you who excuse and cover up lying, corruption, and treason.

I am appalled that someone like Hillary is even in contention for the highest office in the country, instead of being in contention for the most luxurious cell in a supermax.

[eartick]

Is he willing to put the case of Juanita Broaddrick and other victims on the table?

I would say yes but Hillary would have to lured into it by Cruz.

And, I believe Cruz could lure her into it. He has the skill set to do it

[KevinB]

Anything that appalls Todd and Mitchell is okay by me.

[cripplecreek]

Appalled I tell ya.

APPALLED!

[momincombatboots]

Wonder what they said about the planned parenthood dismemberment videos?

[proudpapa]

My two thoughts: 1. Since when did Mitchell care about what plays in South Carolina (the bible belt)

This ad will have a strong appeal to voters aged 18-40. My teens aren’t too political and they both loved it.

The youngest didn’t understand the video. And so it created discussion about why Hillary would want to destroy her computer.

Excellent ad.

[petercooper]

Funny!

[MarDav]

Hmmm,I guess they don’t see the problem with Hillary’s email scandal. Well, that’s surprising.

[PGalt]

Thanks for the link, post. OUTSTANDING! HOORAY Ted Cruz

Thanks for getting in the face of EVIL.

[katana]

The Sanders campaign ought to send the Cruz campaign a donation for producing and airing an attack ad on Hillary they’ll benefit from but wouldn’t have the balls to do themselves. And it’s even, with hip hop beat, directed straight at Sanders’ base. But being Socialists they’ll think somebody else is supposed to pay for it.

[katana]

See my comment #54. Whoever did the ad wasn’t targeting you or me. Intentional or not this was an assist to Bernie Sanders’ campaign and will damage the bitch by putting the whole home cooked illegal server felony issue out there. The mainstream press is in a conspiracy of nervous silence, most voters probably aren’t at all aware of the FBI investigation, and Sanders’ people would never have the balls to produce something like this themselves. That’s what has these MSNBC swine upset.

[Vic S]

But pushing granny over the cliff in a wheelchair is just hillarious?

[Summerfield]

Way to go Ted. By having MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell and Chuck Todd comment on your commercial, you just got millions of dollars’ worth of free publicity. Oops, it is MSNBC, make that hundreds of dollars’ worth of free publicity.

[Ahithophel]

Dunno, but that ad looks like it was filmed on location in Ft. Marcy Park.

[Baynative]

"MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell and Chuck Todd were appalled by a new Ted Cruz commercial attacking Hillary Clinton"

... but not bothered in the least over Benghazi

[Leto]

The Fox people on the 5 were ripping the ad. Fox hates Cruz.